

1 / 

DOROTHY’S Temptation 




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BY 


BARBARA YECHTON 


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AUTHOR OF “ Christine’s inspiration,” “ little saint 

HILARY,” “ INGLESIDE ” 







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V' OOPY««i/y^^%> 


NEW YORK 
JAMES POTT & COMPANY 
1 14 Fifth Avenue 

1893 






Copyright, 1893, by 

JAMES POTT & COMPANY 


TROW BlRECTCnY 

PRINTINQ AMO OOOKOmOINQ COMPANT 
MEW YORK 


TO 

MY SWEET LITTLE COUSIN 

ETHEL 


THIS STORY IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED 



DOROTHY’S TEMPTATION. 


Dorothy sat in a big chair in the 
library, her hands clasped round her 
knees, a discontented expression on 
her pretty little face. “ I don’t see 
why I shouldn’t have that orchid for 
my birthday-party,” she said, crossly, 
to herself. And with Kitty Blanch- 
ard, who always has such stacks of 
flowers at her house, coming too ! I 
declare it’s too provoking that a com- 
mon gardener like Hans should pre- 
vent me from having the flowers that 
belong to my own papa on my own 
birthday. I’ve a great mind just to 
pick those I want without saying a 
word to anybody. I think I will. I’m 


6 


Dorothy's Temptation. 


sure papa never objects to anything 
I do. And aunty does not know an 
orchid from a morning-glory.” 

Dorothy stole to the door of the 
conservatory, and looked in. Con- 
spicuous among a number of foliage 
plants and bright-colored flowers, an 
exquisite orchid reared its graceful 
head. It was an exceedingly rare 
specimen, and this was the first blos- 
som the plant had borne. Hans, the 
gardener, had watched it carefully for 
a week past, and his delight was 
great when it opened the day before 
the great horticultural show, to which 
his master had given him permission 
to send his rarest plants, began. But 
somebody else had an eye on that 
orchid. 

Dorothy loved flowers — that is, 
she loved to cut and arrange them in 
the big glass bowl in the centre of 


Dorothy s Temptation, 


7 


the dinner - table, and in the pretty- 
vases about the parlor and library, 
but she did not like to give the con- 
stant care which a growing plant re- 
quires. She would not even take the 
trouble to pick the dead leaves off 
her favorite rose-bush, and she had 
frequently overturned plants and 
broken off blossoms in her careless- 
ness in cutting the flowers she want- 
ed. 

Dorothy's mamma had been called 
South by grandma’s illness, and aunt 
Helen had come to stay at the house 
and to take charge of everything un- 
til Mrs. Erskine’s return, which might 
not be for some weeks yet, though 
grandma was now quite out of dan- 
ger. 

It was as great a trial to Dorothy’s 
mamma to be away from her little 
girl on her birthday as it was to Dor- 


8 


Dorothy’s Temptation, 


othy to have her away, for they loved 
each other dearly. But Dorothy had 
promised to be very good and not 
fret, though it was a great disap- 
pointment, and her first experience 
of a festival without dear mamma. 
Dorothy’s papa was very indulgent 
to her, and he petted her a great 
deal. Indeed, being an only child, 
with a very sweet face and nice man- 
ners, the littk girl was in great dan- 
ger of being spoiled by everybody. 

To make up for her absence, Mrs. 
Erskine had written to aunt Helen 
to give Dorothy as nice' a birthday- 
party as she and nurse Hannah, and 
Chrissy, the cook, could get up. 
Nine of Dorothy’s friends were to be 
invited, and the little birthday-girl was 
to be allowed to help plan the meyiu. 
All this had been done, and you 
would suppose that Dorothy would 


Dorothy's Temptation, 


9 


have been a very happy girl this birth- 
day morning, but she was not. 

I am afraid Dorothy was some- 
what spoiled, after all. You see, 
everybody had been so good and 
kind to her all her life, that she had 
begun to take it as a right, and to be 
angry when things did not go to suit 
her. 

The birthday morn had dawned as 
bright and clear as anyone could de- 
sire, and the birthday gifts were so 
many and so pretty, that Dorothy 
was delighted. 

There was a dear little ash-wood 
desk from mamma, that just fitted 
into a cosey corner of the library, 
with a pretty inkstand and all the 
paper, pens, and pencils that the most 
industrious little girl could possibly 
need. A string of gold beads from 
aunt Helen, which Dorothy had been 


10 


Dorothy s Temptation. 


** pining for” for the longest time; 
and a big, silver-plated bicycle — a 
“safety” — from papa. Besides these 
there were a nice, useful shoe-bag 
from nurse Hannah, and from cook a 
big dish of home-made candy — tiny 
figures of men and women, animals, 
ships, keys, guns, and pairs of scis- 
sors, all in clear red, white, and yel- 
low sugar, and stuck on little sticks. 
Cook called them all “ sugar dogs,” 
and declared they were the most 
harmless kind of candy made, which 
Dorothy was glad to hear, as she 
liked to eat a good many of them. 
Later in the day came other gifts 
from relatives and friends. 

If only mamma had been there 
Dorothy would have considered her- 
self perfectly happy — until she heard 
Hans say something about “ horti- 
cultural show ” and “ orchid,” to her 


Dorothy’s Temptation, 


II 


papa just as he was drawing on his 
gloves to go to town. 

Certainly you may, Hans,'' Mr. 
Erskine had said, kindly. And you 
have my good wishes that you may 
win the prize." Then, to the little 
girl who was leaning over the banis- 
ter, ‘‘ Good-by, Dorothy Dimples." 
The next instant the brown horses 
Dunder and Blitzen had whirled him 
off down the avenue. 

Dorothy guessed at once what 
the few words which she had heard 
meant. The new lovely orchid, 
which had unfolded itself that morn- 
ing, and which she had expected 
would have graced her birthday 
feast, was to be taken to the city to 
be exhibited at the Flower Show. 

Just to please a horrid old Dutch- 
man ! " cried Dorothy, tears of dis- 
appointment rushing to her eyes. 


12 


Dorothy’s Temptation. 


“ Anyway,” she continued, after a 
while, ‘‘ I don’t see why I should do 
any different to what I had intended. 
I’m not supposed to have heard what 
was said in the hall. I do so want 
Kitty Blanchard to see that orchid 
on the lunch table.” 

Now, Dorothy knew very well the 
difference between right and wrong ; 
but to-day she let selfishness com- 
pletely stifle the “ still small voice ” 
of her conscience. 

While she stood at the conserva- 
tory door aunt Helen called, Doro- 
thy, dear, will you cut the flowers 
for the table ? ” And taking a basket 
over her arm Dorothy walked in- 
to the conservatory, straight up to 
where the orchid stood. One mo- 
ment she hesitated, then snip went 
her shears and the exquisite blossom 
lay severed from its stalk. 


Dorothy's Temptation, 


J3 


Everything went wrong after that. 
The bouquets would not take the 
graceful shapes they usually did, and 
now that she had it, the orchid had 
lost half its value in Dorothy's eyes. 
She could not arrange it to suit her 
fancy. It seemed to her guilty con- 
science as if the purple and white 
blossom reared its head far above 
the other flowers in a most conspicu- 
ous manner. And when near-sighted 
aunt Helen remarked, unexpectedly, 
** What a beautiful flower that is, 
Dorothy, child ! Where did you get 
it?" Dorothy hastily murmured an 
inaudible reply, and half hiding the 
orchid under some smilax, rushed 
upstairs to dress. 

Hans and his wife are so happy, 
because your papa has given him 
permission to exhibit the orchid," 
nurse Hannah said, as she brushed 


14 


Dorothy s Temptation, 


Dorothy’s long fair hair and but- 
toned her frock. “ It’s such a rare 
specimen, Hans is sure he’ll win the 
prize. It’s to be in money, and al- 
ready they’re planning to use it to 
bring his poor old mother out from 
Germany, where she is all alone, to 
live with them. Bertha is delighted ; 
she says she knows Hans has grieved 
because his mother could not come to 
America when they came — but now 
it will all be right.” Oh, how un- 
comfortable Dorothy felt ! Her face 
grew very red, and she twisted her- 
self pettishly away from nurse’s 
hands. I’ll do well enough now,” 
she said, crossly. ** I can fasten my 
beads myself.” 

“You mustn’t be cross on your 
birthday,” cried nurse ; “ for if you 
are you’ll be cross all through the 
year. That’s what they used to tell 


Dorothy's Temptation. 




me when I was a little girl, and it 
never fails.” 

“ Such rubbish ! ” was Dorothy’s 
reply, putting her nose up in the air 
in a way she knew nurse did not ad- 
mire. Then she ran downstairs to 
receive her guests. 

The girls all came early, and ev- 
erybody except poor Dorothy was 
in the best of spirits. They played 
games, and guessed proverbs and 
danced to their hearts’ content, then 
aunt Helen played Mendelssohn’s 
Wedding March, and everybody 
marched into the dining-room with 
lots of fun and laughter, and in ex- 
cellent order, too. The shades at 
the windows had been drawn down, 
and the gas lighted just as was done 
when mamma gave a grown up ” 
lunch. In the middle of the table 
was the big bowl of flowers which 


i6 


Dorothy's Temptation, 


Dorothy had arranged, the table was 
dressed with smilax, and at each 
plate was a dainty little bouquet. 

I would like to tell you of all the 
delicious things that were served at 
this birthday feast, besides the big 
birthday cake, all frosted, and with 
D. E., designed in small pink candies 
on the top, surrounded at the base 
by a wreath of smilax and surmount- 
ed by eleven candles — ten for the 
years that were past and one for the 
year to come, but I have not space. 

Such fun as the little maids had ! 
And Dorothy’s sweet little laugh 
rang out among the rest until Kitty 
Blanchard said : Oh, Dorothy, what 
a beautiful orchid this is, half hidden 
away among the smilax ! It is a very 
rare specimen, I know, for papa has 
a picture of it in a book which he has 
just received from England. Do let 


Dorothy s Temptation. 


n 

me put it on top.’' With the words 
she placed the fragrant blossom in 
the centre of the bowl of flowers. 
Dorothy’s smile died away, and a 
feeling of shame filled her heart as 
she looked at it. To gratify her fool- 
ish vanity and pride she had deprived 
faithful Hans of the chance of getting 
the money that would have brought 
his poor lonely old mother to him. 
He had been away from her for five 
years — longing all the time to have 
her with him ! Dorothy felt as if she 
knew what that craving must have 
been by the rush of love and longing 
for her own dear mamma which came 
over her just then, so suddenly and 
sharply that she could hardly keep 
back the tears that filled her eyes. 

After all had eaten and drank as 
much as they wanted, there were 
more games and dancing, and then 


i8 


Dorothy s Temptation, 


nurses and escorts began to arrive, 
and the little guests took their leave, 
one after the other, declaring they 
had enjoyed the birthday-party im- 
mensely. All had gone except Kitty 
Blanchard, and she stood in the li- 
brary with her hat on, talking to 
Dorothy, when Mr. Erskine’s voice 
was heard in the hall : 

I wouldn’t have had it happen for 
a good deal,” he was saying to aunt 
Helen. And I’m going to find out 
who did it, and let the individual 
know what I think of such behavior.” 
Dorothy’s heart gave a great throb 
that seemed to bring it right into her 
throat, and she did not need the sight 
of the orchid in her father’s hand to 
know what he was talking about. 

Mr. Erskine patted Kitty on the 
shoulder, and passed his hand loving- 
ly over his little daughter’s hair. “ I 


Dorothys Temptation, 


am sure my Dorothy Dimples has 
had nothing to do with it,” he said, 
‘‘but as I have questioned everybody 
else in the household, you must take 
your share. Do you know who cut 
this orchid ? ” 

“Yes, papa,” Dorothy answered, 
with quivering lips. “ I cut it this 
morning.” 

“ Oh, Harcourt, Fm sure she 
didn't know that it was to be exhib- 
ited, or how much Hans depended on 
it,” broke in aunt Helen, eagerly. 

“Yes, I did know it was to be ex- 
hibited,” said Dorothy, as bravely as 
the fast -coming tears would let her. 
“ I heard papa give Hans permission, 
but I had made up my mind to have 
it for my birthday-party.” Then she 
told the whole story, from beginning 
to end. 

“ Oh, ok ! groaned Mr. Erskine. 


20 


Dorothy* s Temptation. 


That my Dorothy should be such a 
mean child ! What will your mother 
say ? ’’ 

** She isn’t mean,” cried Kitty, 
warmly, throwing her arms around 
her friend. Indeed she isn’t, Mr. 
Erskine, or she wouldn’t have told 
the truth so bravely. I’m sure she 
wasn’t happy all the afternoon.” 

I was just miserable!' was the lit- 
tle girl’s reply, with a burst of tears. 

Oh, papa, mayn’t I sell my desk 
and my beads and my ‘safety,’ and 
give the money to Hans with what I 
have in my little bank, so that he can 
send for his poor old mother to come 
and live with him and Bertha ? I do 
want to do something to make it up 
to him.” 

“ Money alone will not do that,” 
said Mr. Erskine, coldly. “ Hans is 
a fine gardener, and he looked for- 


Dorothy s Temptation. 


21 


ward with honest pride to exhibiting 
the flower he had watched and cared 
for so carefully/' 

That was the most unhappy after- 
noon that Dorothy had ever spent. 
She cried until she brought on such 
a headache that aunt Helen had to 
put her to bed. How she did long 
for her dear mamma ! With her far 
away and the knowledge of poor 
Hans's disappointment and papa's 
displeasure, Dorothy felt almost 
heart-broken. 

About dusk, when the shadows 
were gathering in the corners of 
Dorothy's pretty room, and the fire- 
light was dancing and flickering over 
everything, who should come quietly 
in but papa. He wrapped the little 
girl in a soft eiderdown quilt, and 
held her in his lap in the big chair by 
the fire. How glad Dorothy was to 


22 


Dorothy's Temptation. 


feel his dear arms around her once 
again, and to know by the tender kiss 
on her forehead that she was forgiven. 

She and papa had a long serious 
talk in the firelight, and papa im- 
posed two conditions : 

Dorothy was to go to Hans next 
morning, tell him the whole story 
and ask his forgiveness ; and she 
was to give the money in her bank 
and all her pocket-money until after 
the first of January to papa as her 
share toward the amount which he 
intended urging Hans to accept that 
he might bring his old mother from 
Germany. 

They were hard conditions, as 
Dorothy found when she had to hum- 
ble her pride and ask Hans’s forgive- 
ness, and when all through the Christ- 
mas holidays she could buy no pretty 
gifts for those she loved. 


Dorothy's Temptation, 2 ^ 

But the little girl bore her punish- 
ment bravely ; she knew she deserved 
it, and the hard lesson has done her 
lasting good, as those around her 
know. Only the other day nurse 
Hannah remarked to Hans, “ It 
would be hard to find a kinder or 
truthfuller child than our Miss Doro- 
thy anywhere.” And Hans replied 
with earnest sincerity, She iss all 
dat, und no meestake. Got pless 
her ! ” 



























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I. ROLAND “GENTLE-HEART’’ 

3. DOROTHY’S TEMPTATION 

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